The entrance to the tunnels at the Fort George would be somewhere within the outer wall. Possibly from inside one of the caponiers too. Unless you actually have the floor plans to the fort, you'll never know.

Have faith only in those who you trust. And hold who you trust close to you for you have no idea when you will need them most.http://nootz101.blogspot.com

There's probably none that survived, or if they have they're sitting in someone's attic and they don't even know they have them. Contact Susan at HRM's archives in Burnside, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing there regarding the tunnels.

Posted by sonikgirlThere's probably none that survived, or if they have they're sitting in someone's attic and they don't even know they have them. Contact Susan at HRM's archives in Burnside, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing there regarding the tunnels.

I think it would probably be more of a DND thing than an HRM thing

Not saying HRM doesn't have info on it.. I'm just willing to bet that the juicy stuff is under DND wraps.

Not saying HRM doesn't have info on it.. I'm just willing to bet that the juicy stuff is under DND wraps.

But that's the thing... is it really that juicy to keep hidden from the public? They're just tunnels.. most of which have probably caved in. Archival stuff doesn't really sit within departments, especially government departments because there isn't the room and it wouldn't be well preserved, it goes to archives or if there's no archival value it gets disposed of. I've worked in archives and government departments for a few years. If there's restricted information it'll sit for what ever retention period is decided by the donor.

When were these tunnels made? When were they even last used? I can't really see something like that being kept within the military throughout their many name changes over 200 years IMHO..

For example some guy found the plans for all the original plots of land when Halifax was founded in 1749 in his grandfather's attic. He brought them to NS archives, they didn't want them, HRM archives took them.

I wrote this in an earlier thread, but it may be of some interest in this citadel entrance discussion:

To address the George's Isl. tunnel myths.

I work with parks and have a lot to do with sites downtown (citadel and Georges, specifically).

Park's isn't trying to "cover up" any secrets, the scans that BIO did definitively show that there is nothing there now. That's not saying, necessarily there never was, but their scans reveal nothing--it's not some high government cover up.

There was an old man, years and years ago who allegedly--on his death bed--admitted to his family that he had worked on tunnels leading out to the island, but it's obviously hearsay and not confirmed.

If you want to look for tunnels go to the Westin. I've been to the archives (the parks ones, not the ones available to everyone) and there are records that when the Westin (Originally by another name) was built they kept uncovering tunnels leading towards the harbour coming down from the city.

The citadel does have a tunnel called the "big drain" that lead into the city off of the north eastern side of the hill, coincidentally that drain "fed off" into the Royal Artillery yard (no coincidence). However it also branched off into tunnels that largely terminated by where Pier 21/Westin is now--which was also the site of the Royal Engineers yard.

Also, consider that the shortest distance to Georges from land is in and around that area. Which would be convenient for those Royal Engineers who would likely be responsible for the construction.

Again, I've talked with a lot of Parks historians, archeologists and important people about it and most of them laugh at the idea, it's largely debunked and looked at as a folk-tale. There's very little historical evidence to support its existence, even in the more "secret" files left behind (Of which we have MANY).

As far as the tunnel near the Halifax Club there were some leading out of Legislature as I remember. There is currently one that connects Legislature with the building just behind it (I can't recall which one) but they still use it to ferry politicians to and from their offices to avoid the press, if they need to. It would make sense that there would be tunnels connecting different buildings of political significance in that part of the city.

But again, look towards the waterfront areas in and around the Westin, that is where I have heard the strangest tunnels that were unearthed decades ago were found. As I was told by historians the Westin never filled them in, but instead restored them because they could easily route power cables from the generating plant on the water to the hotel.

I know where the entrance on the hill everyone is talking about is and it was re-purposed years ago to carry utility cables up to the hill. From those I work with who have been inside of it they said it is concreted over, shrunk and well locked.

The place you found that was like an ammunition store was likely either a place open to the public, the expense cartridge store, the Ravelin where the modern black powder is stored or a part of the fort that leads nowhere.

The triangular fortifications within the ditch on the South, North and West sides respectively are called Ravelin's. There are no tunnels leading into or out of them. They would not have wanted extra ways in as it was an incredibly important outer-defensive feature. I have been in all three, one is a storage shed, the other is where the modern powder is mixed and one stores some tents and yard equipment.

Posted by RecoilThe triangular fortifications within the ditch on the South, North and West sides respectively are called Ravelin's. There are no tunnels leading into or out of them. They would not have wanted extra ways in as it was an incredibly important outer-defensive feature. I have been in all three, one is a storage shed, the other is where the modern powder is mixed and one stores some tents and yard equipment.

Well, this explains why those are always locked whenever I'm visiting the hill.

Have faith only in those who you trust. And hold who you trust close to you for you have no idea when you will need them most.http://nootz101.blogspot.com

At one point the chain link gate inside the musketry gallery closest to the entrance bridge was open and a number of people had the opportunity to go through.

Interesting for a bit until you realize that it looks exactly the same and runs all the way around the fort. Most of it in the closed off parts is crumbling. In some places there are "mine galleries" which are small t shaped tunnels about 3-4 feet high that branch off down the side of the hill. Their purpose was to roll kegs of powder down in the even that the enemy was trying to mine their way up into the hill. Only a few remain, there is nothing in them.

I can't condone trying to get into there simply for safety reasons, but I can also confirm that there is nothing that goes anywhere once inside.

As far as the Ravelins next time you are up check the one in the South part of the ditch. The lock was broken some months ago and if you give it a good shove it will open, but it was likely ixed.. Though there is nothing really interesting in terms of tunnels, it is a neat structure, almost like a little house.

Doesn't exist anymore. It used to be a martello tower where the Imperial Oil refinery is now. At the entrance to the refinery, there's a cairn and plaque commemorating the Halifax Defence Complex and the importance of Fort Clarence throughout Halifax's harbour defence days.

Have faith only in those who you trust. And hold who you trust close to you for you have no idea when you will need them most.http://nootz101.blogspot.com

McNabsIsland Fort McNab National Historic Site is getting a $1.6M facelift and will be closed for the rest of the year.

I was at McNabs Island today, and was asking Cap'n Mike about this topic. Construction will be ongoing until the end of March.He has been hearing rumour that they're going to block access to all the underground parts of Fort McNab, which will be sad.